Background: The long-term health outcomes of the routine vaccination program remain unknown. Studies have been recommended by the Institute of Medicine to address this question. Specific Aims: To compare vaccinated and unvaccinated children on a broad range of health outcomes, and to determine whether an association found between vaccination and neurodevelopmental disorders (NDD), if any, remained significant after adjustment for other measured factors.Design and Methods: A cross-sectional survey of mothers of children educated at home. Homeschool organizations in four states (Florida, Louisiana, Mississippi, and Oregon) were asked to forward an email to their members, requesting mothers to complete an anonymous online questionnaire on the vaccination status and health outcomes of their biological children ages 6 to 12. A total of 415 mothers provided data on 666 children, of which 261 (39%) were unvaccinated. The collected data included pregnancy experiences and birth histories as well as acute and chronic conditions, medications, and the use of health services.Results: Vaccinated children were significantly less likely than the unvaccinated to have been diagnosed with chickenpox and pertussis, but significantly more likely to have been diagnosed with other infections, allergies and NDDs (defined as Autism Spectrum Disorder, Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder, and/or a learning disability).

Chronic Illness Detail:

Vaccinated children were significantly more likely than the unvaccinated to have been diagnosed with the following chronic illnesses:

Vaccinated children were significantly less likely than unvaccinated children to have had chickenpox or whooping cough (p<0.001).

Vaccinated children had a 3.8-fold increased odds of middle ear infections and a 5.9-fold increased odds of being diagnosed with pneumonia compared to unvaccinated children.

No significant differences were seen between the two groups with regard to Hepatitis A or B, high fever in the past 6 months, measles, mumps, meningitis (viral or bacterial), influenza, or rotavirus.

Vaccination, Preterm Birth and Neurodevelopmental Disorders (NDDs):In regression analyses, vaccination was associated with a significant 3.1-fold increased odds of neurodevelopmental disorders (combining the diagnoses of ASD, ADHD, and learning disability), after controlling for other factors. An important detail emerged regarding a possible synergism between vaccination and preterm birth. In a final adjusted statistical model, vaccination but not preterm birth remained associated with NDD, as defined, while the interaction of preterm birth and vaccination was associated with a 6.6-fold increased odds of NDD (95% Confidence Interval: 2.8, 15.5). *******Quotes from independent scientists not involved in the study:

"I am delighted to see a properly analyzed study on vaccine safety" said Dr. Lyons-Weiler, CEO and President of the Institute for Pure and Applied Knowledge. “Unlike past studies, which ignored the interaction term, Dr. Mawson and colleagues followed appropriate steps toward interpreting the significance of the interaction between variables. The study reported a significant interaction effect between pre-term birth, and vaccination as a 6.6-fold increase in the risk of neurodevelopmental disorders.” “This study, however, as a survey study, is potentially subject to variation due to responses from well-intended participants. The next logical step would be additional, larger studies that would try to replicate the results using electronic medical health records - by independent investigators not involved in profiting from vaccines”, said Dr. Lyons-Weiler.

"This is a long-overdue study involving a fair comparison of vaccinated vs unvaccinated children where the two subpopulations likely don't reflect other biases, due to their being drawn from a common population of home-schooled children”, said Dr. Stephanie Seneff, Senior Research Scientist at the MIT Computer Science and Artificial Intelligence Laboratory. “The results are alarming, and it leaves no doubt that we need to seriously question whether the benefits of vaccines outweigh the risks. A much larger study to see if the results still hold up is paramount at this point."